feeling grateful!

...so for the past year we have been working on finishing our basement... BIG PROJECT!

We've done as much of it on our own as we could and then called in the professionals where we needed them.  We're not quite done, but sooo close.  I can hardly wait.  I have been packed and ready to move down for several months now...   A few last touches and we will be done, but this particular fireplace wall has got to be my favorite part.  I am so happy and amazed at how nice it turned out to be.

I was at family dollar in town today and found this $5 decoration.  Pretty much summs it up for me!  WE Are Blessed!  I am blessed!!!  I've been feeling that way a lot lately, I don't know if it's because my kids are gone, the house is quiet and I have a lot of time to think about my life and my happiness... or what?  But I do realize that I have a lot to be thankful for... I'll spare you all the list... it's a long one!

first day of school... 6:45 am Mason (14) 8th grade, Sadie (11)  6th grade, Nick (8)  3rd grade.

"don't smile Nick, whatever you do!!!"

Um... somebody was extremely excited for school today!!!!!!

and so darling, might I add...

it was a lot of hair to curl but we had plenty of time.. she was up at 1 am, and then again at 6, dressed by 6:15!  It's a miracle!!  It may only be this one day, but it happened and I have pictures to prove it!  (She's not such a morning person!)  Had to be to the bus by 7:05 and had a 40 lb back pack to carry!!!  Wow, we did it!  Now... what to do, what to do...  CLEAN!!!!!

it's been a while... i've missed you blogger world...

This has been a good summer...  Brigham City Temple Open House

I am a gardener... look at my harvest!

4th of July Derby in Delta...

Andy was LOVIN EVERY MINUTE OF IT.. OH YA!

We spent time with cousins in the mountains

hiked to a water fall

did some lake fishing with some of our favorite fisher-people 

everyone caught one!!!!

the best fisherwomen of all...

and the loot

cousins are the best!

family reunions and memories to last a lifetime

all 3 months in a nutshell...

Andy's 4th birthday

It all started with this great idea to make a checkerboard cake... and he wanted "blue frosting"  well, so I went to work with the pastry bags and piped them into the pans, blue and white and so on... I thought it would turn out just fine.... Mom had pans that were specifically designed for such things, but I thought free form would work just as well...  He loved the blue frosting and the sprinkles and was really excited for the party and mostly the cake.  Fast forward through the longest day of a 4 year olds life... waiting for everyone to be in the same place at the same time to open presents, eat dinner and finally have CAKE!  Cut into cake, and awwwww well, not quite what I had hoped for with the checkerboard effect, but oh well!  It tasted good to a 4 year old and that's all that mattered. 

Can you believe, by the way, my baby is a 4 year old soon to be preschool boy?  NO, ME EITHER!!!!  there's something not right about that.  I hate to see him grow up, but love watching it all happen and getting to have him as my best little pal ever!  Andy is a special little boy!  Hope I made his day as special as a Mom can, in more ways than cake!

healthy chocolate muffins

Just in case you didn't think I could stand to make things that were healthy...  here's one for you.  No sugar and no flour!!!

Triple Chocolate Chunk Muffin Knock-Offs of Whole Food’s 6 Dollar per 4 Chocolate Chunk VitaTop Muffins

Ingredients:

1 3/4 c oats

•  3 egg whites
•  3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt (or regular plain low fat yogurt)
• 1/2 tsp cream of tartar (or 1-1/2 Tbsp. vinegar)
• 1-1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1-1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 cup hot water
• 1 cup sugar substitute (like Splenda granular) OR 1/4 cup + 2 tbs stevia
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (or use white chocolate or peanut butter chips!)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 (12-cup) muffin pans with foil cupcake liners, or spray muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
In a blender, (or food processor), mix all of the ingredients together, except for the chocolate chips. Blend until oats are ground and mixture is smooth.
Place mixture in a bowl and gently stir in 1/2 of the chocolate chips (set the rest aside). Scoop mixture into prepared muffin pans.
Place muffins tins in the oven for 10 minutes.  After 10 minutes, remove muffins from the oven (but don’t shut oven off), and distribute the other half of the chocolate chips on top of each muffin.
Place  the muffins back into the oven and bake for an additional 2-5 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. *Note, you could skip this step by putting all of the chips in the batter, and baking the muffins for 12-15 min straight, but this method gives the muffins the traditional ‘VitaTop Muffin’ look with the chocolate chips on top!
Cool muffins before removing from pan. ENJOY!!!
Servings: 12 Big Muffins or 24 Smaller Muffins
Calories: 116 Calories Per Muffin or 58 Calories Per Muffin

p.s. found it on pinterest!

p.s.s. i used granulated honey for the sweetener, and my oats were already pretty ground up and so my muffins are rather dense and yummy!  If you haven't tried granulated honey, it's good stuff.  (thanks for the tip Ana! :)

yw Book of Mormon challenge

Our Young Women just finished a 90 day Book of Mormon reading challenge.  It was really a fun challege all "Team" based.  We earned matching jerseys, water bottles, and most of all great habits.  Last night was our awards night.  These are the little treats that I made to help celebrate the night.  Hershey's treasures (some had toffee... yum!)

See it... Love it... Make it...

Saw this on pinterest... loved it... needed a gift for a baby shower...

Mine's not nearly as cute... but by its own right is cute enough... I plan on making many more of these... super fun project and a great way to use ribbon scraps.

I inherited a bunch of gingle bells of all sorts from my sister in law and found the perfect use for them. They make the cutest little tinkle-rattle sound inside one of these little soft toys! Thanks Ali!